Post passivation interconnection schemes on top of the IC chips

ABSTRACT

A new method is provided for the creation of interconnect lines. Fine line interconnects are provided in a first layer of dielectric overlying semiconductor circuits that have been created in or on the surface of a substrate. A layer of passivation is deposited over the layer of dielectric and a thick second layer of dielectric is created over the surface of the layer of passivation. Thick and wide post-passivation interconnect lines are created in the thick second layer of dielectric. The first layer of dielectric may also be eliminated, creating the wide thick passivation interconnect network on the surface of the layer of passivation that has been deposited over the surface of a substrate.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application No.10/685,872, filed on Oct. 15, 2003.

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is related to application No. 10/278,106, filed on Oct.22, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,734,563, which is a division ofapplication No. 09/691,497, filed on Oct. 18, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No.6,495,442, all assigned to a common assignee and all herein incorporatedby reference in their entirety.

This application is also related to application No. 09/721,722, filed onNov. 27, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,303,423, assigned to a commonassignee and herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The invention relates to the fabrication of integrated circuit devices,and more particularly, to a method of post-passivation processing forthe creation of conductive interconnects.

(2) Description of the Related Art

Improvements in semiconductor device performance are typically obtainedby scaling down the geometric dimensions of Integrated Circuits; thisresults in a decrease in the cost per die while at the same time someaspects of semiconductor device performance are improved. The metalconnections which connect the Integrated Circuit to other circuit orsystem components become of relative more importance and have, with thefurther miniaturization of the IC, an increasingly negative impact onthe circuit performance. The capacitance and resistance of the metalinterconnections increase, which degrades the chip performancesignificantly. Of most concern in this respect is the voltage drop alongthe power and ground buses and the RC delay of the critical signalpaths. Attempts to reduce the resistance by using wider metal linesresult in higher capacitance of these wires.

To solve this problem, one approach has been to develop low resistancemetal (such as copper) for the wires while low-k dielectric materialsare used in between signal lines. Current practice is to create metalinterconnection networks under a layer of passivation. This approach,however, limits the interconnect network to fine line interconnects andthe therewith associated high line capacitance and high line resistance.The latter two parameters, because of their relatively high values,degrade circuit performance, an effect which becomes even more severefor higher frequency applications and for long interconnect lines thatare, for instance, used for clock distribution lines. Also, fine lineinterconnect metal cannot carry high values of current that is typicallyneeded for ground busses and for power busses.

From the aspect of IC metal interconnection history, sputtered aluminumhas been a mainstream IC interconnection metal material since the1960's. The aluminum film is sputtered to cover the whole wafer, andthen the metal is patterned using photolithography methods and dryand/or wet etching. It is technically difficult and economicallyexpensive to create thicker than 2 μm aluminum metal lines due to thecost and stress concerns of blanket sputtering. About 1995, damascenecopper metal became an alternative for IC metal interconnection. Indamascene copper, the insulator is patterned and copper metal lines areformed within the insulator openings by blanket electroplating copperand chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) to remove the unwanted copper.Electroplating the whole wafer with thick metal creates large stress.Furthermore, the thickness of damascene copper is usually defined by theinsulator thickness, typically chemical vapor deposited (CVD) oxides,which does not offer the desired thickness due to stress and costconcerns. Again it is also technically difficult and economicallyexpensive to create thicker than 2 μm copper lines.

It has previously been stated that it is of interest to thesemiconductor art to provide a method of creating interconnect linesthat removes typical limitations that are imposed on the interconnectwires, such as unwanted parasitic capacitances and high interconnectline resistance. U.S. Pat. No. 6,383,916 to the same inventor as thepresent invention provides such a method. An analogy can be drawn inthis respect whereby the currently (prior art) used fine-lineinterconnection schemes, which are created under a layer of passivationand providing high density interconnects, are the streets in a city; inthe post-passivation interconnection scheme of the above patent, theinterconnections that are created above a layer of passivation andproviding high performance interconnects can be considered the freewaysbetween cities.

FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a silicon substrate on the surface of whichhas been created a conductive interconnect network. The chip structurethat is shown in FIG. 1 addresses prior art power and grounddistribution networks. The various features that have been highlightedin FIG. 1 are the following:

-   -   40, a silicon substrate on the surface of which has been created        an interconnect network    -   42, a sample number of semiconductor circuits that have been        created in or on the surface of the substrate 40    -   44, two electrostatic discharge (ESD) circuits created in or on        the surface of the substrate 40; one ESD circuit is provided for        each pad that is accessible for external connections (pads 52,        see below)    -   46 is a layer of interconnect lines; these interconnect lines        are above the surface of substrate 40 and under the layer 48 of        passivation and represent a typical application of prior art        fine-line interconnects; these fine-line interconnects of layer        46 typically have high resistance and high capacitance.    -   48 is a layer of passivation that is deposited over the surface        of the layer 46 of interconnect lines. The passivation layer is        the final layer of the IC process in the prior art. The        passivation layer is used to protect the underlying devices and        fine-line interconnection from damage by mobile ions, moisture,        transition metals, and contamination.    -   50 is a power or ground bus that connects to the circuits 42 via        fine-line interconnect lines provided in layer 46; this power or        ground bus is typically of wider metal since this power or        ground bus carries the accumulated current or ground connection        for the devices 42. The power or ground buses are built in the        fine line interconnect under the passivation layer. The fine        line interconnection can be in one layer or more than one layer        of metals.    -   52 is a power or ground pad that passes through the layer 48 of        passivation and that has been connected to the power or ground        bus 50.

From the above the following can be summarized: circuits are created inor on the surface of a silicon substrate, interconnect lines are createdfor these circuits for further interconnection to external circuitry,the circuits are, on a per I/O pad basis, provided with an ESD circuit;these circuits with their ESD circuit are connected to a power or groundpad that penetrates a layer of passivation. The layer of passivation isthe final layer that overlies the created interconnect line structure;the interconnect lines underneath the layer of passivation are fine lineinterconnects and have all the electrical disadvantages of fine lineinterconnects such as high resistance and high capacitance.

Relating to the diagram that is shown in FIG. 1, the following commentapplies: ESD circuits are, as is known in the art, provided for theprotection of semiconductor circuits against unwanted electrostaticdischarge. For this reason, each pad that connects a semiconductorcircuit to the external circuits must be provided with an ESD circuit.

FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a prior art configuration that resembles thediagram shown in FIG. 1. The chip structure that is shown in FIG. 2however relates to clock and signal distribution networks. FIG. 2 showsin addition (to the previously highlighted aspects of FIG. 1):

-   -   45 are two ESD circuits that are provided in or on the surface        of the substrate 40; ESD circuits are always required for any        external connection to an input/output (I/O) pad.    -   45′ which are circuits that can be receiver or driver or I/O        circuits for input (receiver) or output (driver) or I/O purposes        respectively.    -   54 is a clock, signal, address, or data bus built in the fine        line interconnection metal under the passivation layer. The        clock, signal, or buses can be in one layer or in more than one        layer of fine line interconnect metals.    -   56 is a clock or signal pad that has been extended through the        layer 48 of passivation.

The same comments apply to the diagram that is shown in FIG. 2 aspreviously have been made with respect to FIG. 1, with as a summarystatement that the layer of passivation is the final layer that overliesthe created structure, the interconnect lines underneath the layer ofpassivation are fine line interconnects and have all the electricaldisadvantages of fine line interconnects such as high resistance andhigh parasitic capacitance.

Further with respect to FIG. 2 where pads 56 are signal or clock pads:

-   -   pads 56 must be connected to ESD and driver/receiver or I/O        circuits 45    -   for signal or clock pads 56, these pads must be connected not        only to ESD circuits but also to driver or receiver or I/O        circuits, highlighted as circuit 45′ in FIG. 2    -   after (clock and signal) stimuli have passed through the ESD and        driver/receiver or I/O circuits, these stimuli are further        routed using, under prior art methods, fine-line interconnect        wires. A layer of passivation is deposited over the dielectric        layer in which the interconnect network has been created.

It is therefore of interest to the semiconductor art to provide a methodof creating interconnect lines that removes typical limitations that areimposed on the interconnect wires, such as unwanted parasiticcapacitances and high interconnect line resistance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A principal objective of the invention is to provide a method for thecreation of post-passivation interconnect metal that allows for the useof thick and wide metal.

Another objective of the invention is to create a new integrated circuitinterconnection design architecture, analogous to the transportationnetworks, using the conventional IC fine-line interconnection under thepassivation layer as the streets in the cities, and the newly createdpost-passivation interconnection above the passivation layer as thefreeways between the cities.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a method for thecreation of post-passivation interconnect metal that uses theapplication of a thick layer of dielectric such as polymer.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a method for thecreation of post-passivation interconnect metal that uses theapplication of a thick layer of metal formed by selectiveelectroplating.

Yet another objective of the invention is to provide a method thatallows for the creation of long post-passivation interconnect lines,whereby these long post-passivation interconnect lines do not have highresistance or introduce high capacitance.

A still further objective of the invention is to create post-passivationinterconnect lines that can carry high levels of current for thecreation of power and ground distribution networks.

A still further objective of the invention is to create post-passivationinterconnect metal that can be created using cost effective methods ofmanufacturing by creating the interconnect metal on the surface of andafter a layer of passivation has been deposited.

In accordance with the objectives of the invention a new method isprovided for the creation of post-passivation interconnect lines. Fineline interconnects are provided in a first layer of dielectric overlyingsemiconductor circuits that have been created in or on the surface of asubstrate. A layer of passivation is deposited over the layer ofdielectric; a thick second layer of dielectric is created over thesurface of the layer of passivation. Thick and wide interconnect linesare created in the thick second layer of dielectric. Intra chip driversare connected to the thick, wide post-passivation interconnections.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a representation of a silicon substrate over which a prior artfine-line interconnect network is created over which a layer ofpassivation is deposited, and power and/or ground pads are providedthrough the layer of passivation for external connection. The chipstructure that is shown in FIG. 1 addresses prior art power and grounddistribution networks.

FIG. 2 is a representation of a silicon substrate over which a prior artfine-line interconnect network is created over which a layer ofpassivation is deposited, and clock and/or signal pads are providedthrough the layer of passivation for external connection. The chipstructure that is shown in FIG. 2 addresses prior art clock and signaldistribution networks.

FIG. 3 a is a representation of a silicon substrate over which aninterconnect network is created according to the invention. Power and/orground pads are provided for external connection. The chip structurethat is shown in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b relates to power and grounddistribution networks of the invention. 66 represents one or more thanone layers of metal.

FIG. 3 b further distributes the power and ground to the circuit nodesthrough power and ground distribution lines that are below a layer ofpassivation and power and ground distribution lines that are above alayer of passivation. 66 and 66′ each represent one or more than onelayer of metal.

FIG. 3 c shows an alternative wherein contact is made to a conventionalbond pad through the passivation layer rather than through apost-passivation thick wide metal system.

FIG. 4 a is a representation of a silicon substrate over which aninterconnect network is created according to the invention. An ESDand/or driver and/or receiver circuit access pad is provided through thesurface of the layer of dielectric for external connection. The chipstructure that is shown in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b addresses clock and signaldistribution networks of the invention. “Signals” refer to, but are notlimited to, address and data. 72 in the figure represents one or morethan one layer of metal.

FIG. 4 b further distributes signal and clock to the circuit nodesthrough clock and signal distribution lines that are below a layer ofpassivation in addition to clock and signal distribution lines that areabove a layer of passivation. 71 and 71′ each represent one or more thanone layers of metal.

FIGS. 4 c and 4 d show smaller intra-chip circuit drivers.

FIGS. 4 e through 4 h show an alternative for the embodiments in FIGS. 4a to 4 d, respectively, wherein contact is made to a conventional bondpad through the passivation layer rather than through a post-passivationthick wide metal system.

FIG. 4 i shows two drivers, receivers or I/O circuits sharing a commonESD circuit by using the post-passivation interconnect to connect thedrivers, receivers or I/O circuits to the common ESD circuit.

FIG. 4 j shows multiple (more than two) drivers, receivers, and/or I/Ocircuits connected to multiple ESD circuits (more than one) usinglow-impedance post-passivation interconnects.

FIG. 5 a is a representation of a silicon substrate over which aninterconnect network is created according to the invention. No I/Oconnect pad is provided for external connection in specific networks.The chip structure that is shown in FIGS. 5 a and 5 b addresses clockand signal distribution networks of the invention.

FIG. 5 b differentiates between clock and signal distribution lines thatare below a layer of passivation and clock and signal distribution linesthat are above a layer of passivation.

FIGS. 5 c and 5 d show smaller intra-chip circuit drivers.

FIG. 5 e shows a series of driver/receivers, or transceivers, orrepeater devices using the post-passivation interconnects of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 6 a and 6 b are cross-sections of the interconnect structure ofthe present invention including contact pads on top of thepost-passivation interconnection structure for connection to externalcircuits through wirebonds, gold bumps and solder bumps.

FIGS. 6 c and 6 d are cross-sections of the interconnect structure ofthe present invention including contact made to a conventional bond padthrough the passivation layer rather than through a post-passivationthick wide metal system for connection to external circuits throughwirebonds, gold bumps and solder bumps.

FIG. 6 e shows details of metal structure in each layer ofpost-passivation interconnection structure.

FIG. 6 f is a cross section similar to FIG. 6 c except that a metal capis formed in the passivation openings. The metal cap is formed byaluminum or gold to protect the damascene copper used in the fine linemetal scheme.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

U.S. Pat. No. 6,383,916, to a common inventor as the current invention,teaches an Integrated Circuit structure where re-distribution andinterconnect metal layers are created in layers of dielectric over thepassivation layer of a conventional Integrated Circuit (IC). A layer ofpassivation is deposited over the IC, a thick layer of polymer isalternately deposited over the surface of the layer of passivation, andthick, wide metal lines are formed over the passivation.

Referring now more specifically to FIG. 6 a, there is shown a crosssection of one implementation of U.S. Pat. No. 6,383,916. The surface ofsilicon substrate 10 has been provided with transistors 11 and otherdevices (not shown in FIG. 6 a). The surface of substrate 10 is coveredby an interlevel dielectric (ILD) layer 12, formed over the devices.

Layers 14 (two examples are shown) represent all of the metal layers anddielectric layers that are typically created on the dielectric layer 12.Layers 14 contain multiple layers of dielectric or insulation and thelike. Conductive interconnect lines 13 make up the network of electricalconnections that are created throughout layers 14. Overlying and on thesurface of layers 14 are points 16 of electrical contact. These points16 of electrical contact can, for instance, be bond pads that establishelectrical interconnects to external circuits. These points of contact16 can be points of interconnect within the IC arrangement thatestablish electrical interconnects to the transistors and other devicesin the surface of the substrate. These metal layers are referred to asfine line metal interconnections.

Typically, the intermetal dielectric (IMD) layers comprise silicon-basedoxides, such as silicon dioxide formed by a chemical vapor deposition(CVD) process, CVD TEOS oxide, spin-on-glass (SOG), fluorosilicate glass(FSG), high density plasma CVD oxides, or the composite layer formed bya portion of this group of materials. The IMD layers typically have athickness of between about 1000 and 10,000 Angstroms. The fine linemetal interconnections are typically formed by sputtering aluminum or analuminum alloy and patterning the aluminum to form the fine metal lines.Alternatively, the fine lines may be formed by a copper damasceneprocess. In the copper damascene process, the copper is protected by anadhesion/barrier layer not only underlying the copper, but alsosurrounding the copper at the sidewalls of the line through the IMD.These fine lines typically have a thickness of between about 1000 and10,000 Angstroms. In the fabrication process of the fine line metalinterconnections, a typical clean room environment of class 10 or lessis required; that is, having no more than 10 particles larger than 0.5microns in any given cubic foot of air. For the generation of the 0.2 μmCMOS technology or more advanced generations, the clean room environmentof class 1 or even better is required. The fine line IC metal isfabricated using 5× steppers or scanners or better and using aphotoresist layer having thickness of less than 5 microns.

A passivation layer 18, formed of, for example, a composite layer ofsilicon oxide and silicon nitride or oxynitride (the thickness ofsilicon nitride or oxynitride is usually thicker than about 0.3 μm forthe passivation purpose), is deposited over the surface of layers 14,and functions to prevent the penetration of mobile ions (such as sodiumions), moisture, transition metals (such as gold, copper, silver), andother contamination. The passivation layer is used to protect theunderlying devices (such as transistors, polysilicon resistors,poly-to-poly capacitors, etc.) and the fine-line metal interconnection.

The key steps of U.S. Pat. No. 6,383,916 begin with the deposition of athick layer 20 of an insulating polymer, preferably polyimide, which isdeposited over the surface of passivation layer 18. Access must beprovided to points of electrical contact 16; for this reason a patternof openings is formed through the polyimide layer 20 and the passivationlayer 18. Contact points 16 are, by means of the openings that arecreated in the layer 20 of polyimide, electrically extended to thesurface of layer 20.

After formation of the openings, metallization is performed to createthick, wide metal lines 24 and 25 and to connect to contact points 16.Lines 24 and 25 can be of any design in width and thickness toaccommodate specific circuit design requirements. The thick, wide metalof the post passivation metal lines of the invention is thicker then thetypical fine-line metal layers by a ratio of between about 2 and 1000times. The thick, wide metal lines are wider than the fine-line metal bya ratio of between about 2 and 1000 times. The thick, wide metal lineshave a thickness of between about 2 and 100 μm, and a width of greaterthan or equal to about 2 μm. Line spacing preferably is greater than orequal to about 2 μm. This structure allows for the interconnection ofcircuit elements at various distances using the thick, wide (as comparedto the underlying “fine line” metallization in layers 14) metal of 25.

Thick, wide metal 25 has smaller resistance and capacitance than thefine line metal 14 and is also easier and more cost effective tomanufacture. The thick, wide metals lines are formed by a selectivedeposition process—by photoresist defined electroplating of metals. Goldand copper are preferred. Silver, palladium, and nickel are otherpossible choices. Optionally, a top layer of polymer (not shown in FIG.6 a) can also be formed to encapsulate the thick, wide metal 25.

In more detail, the clean room environment of the post-passivation metalprocess can be of a class 100 or more; that is, having 100 or moreparticles larger than 0.5 microns in any given cubic foot of air. Foradvanced applications, a clean room environment of class 10 may berequired. During photolithography in the post-passivation metal process,aligners or 1× steppers are used with a photoresist having a thicknessof greater than about 5 microns. The thick, wide metal lines have athickness of between about 2 and 100 microns and a width of larger thanabout 2 microns.

An advantage of the selective deposition process of the invention is aminimization of wasted material, especially when precious metal, such asgold, silver, or palladium is used. In the selective deposition process,the metal is electroplated only where it is needed. In contrast, in thestandard metal damascene process used for fine line metallization, metalis electroplated everywhere and then etched or polished away where it isnot needed. Covering the whole wafer with thick metal creates stresswhich causes the process problem. This is a waste of metal, especiallyfor the cases when precious metal is used. The removed metal is oftencontaminated and may not be able to be reused or may be very expensiveto be reused.

Furthermore, in the selective deposition process of the invention, thethickness of selective electroplated metal is defined by the thicknessof photoresist, which can be formed as thick as 100 microns. In otherwords, it is feasible and cost-effective to form thick metal byselective electroplating. By contrast, it is technically difficult toform thick metal by a damascene copper process. A primary limitation toforming thick copper damascene lines is the thickness of the chemicalvapor deposited (CVD) oxides which define the damascene copperthickness. CVD oxides cannot be thickly deposited due to stressconcerns. It is also very expensive to deposit thick CVD oxides.

After electroplating, the photoresist is removed. As shown in anenlarged illustration in FIG. 6 e, the adhesion/barrier layer 22,comprising TiW, TaN, Cr, Ti, or TiN, and seed layer 23, comprising thesame metal as the electroplated metal, are removed by etching using theelectroplated metal layer 24 as a mask. During the self-aligned wetetching of the adhesion/barrier layer, an undercut 21 is formed in theadhesion/barrier layer 22, as shown in FIG. 6 e. The undercut is usuallybetween about 0.03 to 2.0 micron per side, depending on etching recipeand over-etch time.

The chip structure of the thick, wide post-passivation metal 24 and 25is different from the chip structure of the fine line metallization. Inaddition to the undercut 21 in the adhesion/barrier layer, there is aclear boundary between the sputtered seed layer 23 and the electroplatedmetal 24 and 25. This can be seen, for example, in a transmissionelectron microscope (TEM) image. The entire metal body is constructed bytwo layers of materials having the same constitution (i.e. gold copper,silver, palladium, or nickel), but different microstructure. The grainsize of the electroplated metal is much larger than that of the seedlayer, by at least two times. For example, in a 1,000 Angstroms thicksputtered gold layer under a 4 microns thick electroplated gold layer,the grain size of the sputtered gold layer is about 1,000 Angstroms, andthe grain boundary is perpendicular to the surface of substrate. Thegrain size of the electroplated gold is greater than about 2 micronswith the grain boundary not perpendicular, and typically, at an angle ofabout 45 degrees from the substrate surface. In the fine line metalinterconnections, there is no undercutting or clear boundary of grainsize difference inside the aluminum layer.

The fine line metal lines can be copper damascene lines. Even if thepost-passivation metal is also copper, the chip structure of thepost-passivation metal lines is still different from the fine line metallines. As described above, an undercut in the adhesion/barrier layer isformed during etching of that layer in the post-passivation metalprocess. Additionally, the adhesion/barrier layer 22 in thepost-passivation metal structure is formed only under the copper line,as shown in FIG. 6 e. In the copper damascene process of the fine linemetallization, an adhesion/barrier layer is needed not only at thebottom, but also at the sidewalls of the copper line. This is neededprimarily to protect the underlying active devices from copper ions.However, in the post-passivation scheme of the invention, thepassivation layer 18 provides the barrier to copper ions.

Referring now to FIG. 6 b, multiple layers of post-passivation metalscan also be built for some applications. A second layer of polymer 21 isdeposited and patterned, followed by the formation of the second layerof thick, wide metal 26, 27 by selective deposition. A finalencapsulation 22 covers the whole wafer with some exposed pads 28 forconnection to external circuits. The exposed pads 28 are connected toexternal circuits through solder bumps, gold bumps, and/or wirebonds.

FIGS. 6 c and 6 d are analogous to FIGS. 6 a and 6 b, respectively, butshow the process of the invention in conjunction with exposed pads onthe top layer of the fine line metal structure for connection to theexternal circuits. Openings 29 have been made to aluminum pad 16.Conventional wirebonding techniques may be used to form wirebondconnections to the original Aluminum pad 16 exposed by openings 29 inFIGS. 6 c and 6 d. Here, a piece of aluminum 16″ is used for a shortdistance interconnection between wirebonding pads and thepost-passivation interconnection. In some other applications, gold bumpor solder bump connection may be used to connect contact pads 16′ toexternal circuits. For the case when fine line metal 13 is formed by thedamascene copper, as shown in FIG. 6 f, a metal cap 17 is formed in theopenings 29. The metal cap is formed by either aluminum or gold. Here, apiece of damascene copper 16″ is used for a short distanceinterconnection between contact pads 16′ and the post-passivationinterconnection 24.

The following comments relate to the size and the number of the contactpoints 16 in FIGS. 6 a–6 d. Because these contact points 16 are locatedon top of a thin dielectric (layer 14, FIGS. 6 a–6 d) the pad sizecannot be too large since a large pad size brings with it a largecapacitance. In addition, a large pad size will interfere with therouting capability of that layer of metal. It is therefore preferred tokeep the size of the pad 16 relatively small. The size of the contactpad 16 can be in the order of 0.5 μm to 40 μm, the exact size beingdependent on the electrical requirements of the contacts.

The invention does not impose a limitation on the number of contact padsthat can be included in the design; this number is not only dependent onpackage design requirements but is mostly dependent on the internalcircuit design requirements. Layer 18 in FIGS. 6 a–6 d can be a typicalIC passivation layer.

The most frequently used passivation layer in the present state of theart is plasma enhanced CVD (PECVD) oxide and nitride. In creating layer18 of passivation, a layer of approximately 0.5 μm PECVD oxide can bedeposited first followed by a layer of approximately thicker than about0.3 μm nitride. Passivation layer 18 is very important because itprotects the device wafer from moisture and foreign ion contamination.To achieve the passivation purpose, the silicon nitride is usuallythicker than about 0.3 μm. The positioning of this layer between thesub-micron process (of the integrated circuit) and the tens-micronprocess (of the post-passivation metallization structure) is of criticalimportance since it allows for a cheaper process that has less stringentclean room requirements for the process of creating the interconnectingmetallization structure.

Layers 20, 21,and 22 are thick polymer dielectric layers (for examplepolyimide) that have a thickness in excess of 2 μm (after curing). Therange of the polymer thickness can vary from 2 μm to 150 μm, dependenton electrical design requirements.

For the deposition of layers 20, 21, 22 a polymer can be spin-on coatedand cured. After spin-on coating, the polymer will be cured at 370degrees C. for 1 hour in a vacuum or nitrogen ambient. For a thickerpolymer, the polymer film can be multiple coated and cured. The polymeralso can be formed by screen printing.

A polymer such as a polyimide (HD Microsystems, Parlin, N.J.) can beused as the polymer. Another material that can be used to create layers20, 21, 22 is the polymer benzocyclobutene (BCB) (Dow Chemical Company,Midland, Mich.), which has recently gained acceptance to be used insteadof typical polyimide application. Other possible materials for layers20, 21, 22 include a silicone elastomer, or parylene. The epoxy-basedmaterial such as photoepoxy SU-8 (Sotec Microsystems, Renens,Switzerland) can also be used.

The thick layers 20, 21, 22 of polymer can be coated in liquid form onthe surface of the layer 18 of passivation or it can be laminated overthe surface of the layer 18 of passivation in dry film form.

For the thick layers 21, 22 of polymer, steps and dips exist in thepolymer layer at the edge and gaps, respectively, of the underlyingthick metal. Polymer like polyimide is usually a good planarizationmaterial, especially in filling small metal gaps. However, the degree ofplanarization is not 100%. For post-passivation thick metal, theintermetal polymer layer may require a planarization process. Thepolymer layers can be planarized by the chemical-mechanical polishing(CMP). Planarization can be immediately after depositing each intermetalpolymer layer or before forming each layer of post-passivationmetallization and after forming openings in the intermetal polymerlayer.

Additional electrical components such as an inductor, a capacitor, andthe like, not shown, can be created on the surface of layer 20 or 22 ofpolyimide and in electrical contact with underlying metallization.

Now, the design architecture of the present invention will be describedin detail. Referring now specifically to FIG. 3 a, this figure refers topower and ground architecture. There is shown in FIG. 3 a a siliconsubstrate 40 over which an interconnect network 60 is created accordingto the invention, with a wide and thick post-passivation wireinterconnect network 66 created in a thick layer 64 of dielectricoverlying a layer 62 of passivation. A power and/or ground pad can beprovided for external connection. Following are the various featuresthat are shown in FIG. 3 a:

-   -   40 is the silicon substrate on the surface of which interconnect        lines are created in accordance with the invention.    -   42 are semiconductor circuits that are created in or on the        surface of substrate 40. These may be n-channel MOS device,        p-channel MOS devices, and/or CMOS devices. Each semiconductor        circuit has several nodes connected to other circuits or        power/ground. A typical circuit consists at least a power node,        Vdd, a ground node, Vss, and a signal node, Vs.    -   43 is the power (Vdd) or ground node (Vss) of the semiconductor        circuits 42.    -   44 is an ESD circuit that is provided for the protection of        circuits 42.    -   58 is a layer in or on the surface of substrate 40 where        semiconductor circuits 42 are created.    -   60 is a layer of fine-line interconnects, formed in one or more        layers of metal 60′ and dielectric 60″, that has been created        overlying semiconductor circuit layer 58 and connected to the        semiconductor devices 42.    -   61 is a connection comprising metal formed through a via through        one or more dielectric layers 60″; more such vias are shown in        FIG. 3 a but are, for reasons of simplicity, not highlighted.    -   62 is a layer of passivation that has been deposited overlying        the layer 60 of fine-line interconnects.    -   63 is one of the vias that passes through layer 62 of        passivation; more such vias are shown in FIG. 3 a but are, for        reasons of simplicity, not highlighted.    -   64 is a layer of dielectric in which, as a post-passivation        process, interconnects, in one or more layers of metal, have        been created.    -   65 is a power or ground via that is connected to the ESD circuit        44, originating in layer 64 and further passing through layers        62 and 60″. This connection comprises metal formed through vias        in the dielectric layers 64, 62 and 60″.    -   66 represents the combined (for multiple connection scheme in        layer 64) power or ground bus or plane. This layer could be one        or more than one thick, wide post-passivation metal layers as        well as intervening dielectric including a polymer. For multiple        layers of metal, the metals are connected through openings in        the polymer.    -   67 is a via that is created in layer 64 and overlying the        openings in layer 62 of passivation and of layer 60″. The power        or ground bus or plane is connected to the semiconductor        circuits 42 through metals formed in the openings in layer 64,        62 and 60″. More such vias are shown in FIG. 3 a but are, for        reasons of simplicity, not highlighted.    -   68 is the contact point on the top of the post-passivation        interconnection scheme. The contact point 68 is connected to the        external power supply through solder bumps, gold bumps, or        wirebonds.    -   68′ is an additional (optional) contact point on the top of the        post-passivation interconnection scheme. The contact point 68′,        in addition to the contact point 68, may be added at a location        to fit in specific packaging requirements, and to reduce further        IR drop for the nearby semiconductor circuits. The contact point        68′ is also connected to the external power supply through        solder bumps, gold bumps, or wirebonds.

From the representation that is shown in FIG. 3 a, it is clear that,most importantly, the ability to create interconnects to semiconductordevices 42 that have been created in or on the surface of a substrate 40has been extended by creating these interconnects not only as fine-lineinterconnects in layer 60 but extending the interconnect by creation ofa wide, thick post-passivation wire interconnect network 66 overlying alayer 62 of passivation. This provides immediate and significantbenefits in that these lines are further removed from the surface of thesubstrate 40 (reducing parasitic influences by the interconnect lines60′ on the semiconductor devices 42 that are created in or on thesurface of the substrate 40) while the interconnect network 66 that iscreated overlying the layer 62 of passivation can now contain sturdier;that is, thicker and wider, post-passivation interconnect lines 66. Thethick, wide metal interconnects 66 can be used for power and grounddistribution; this distribution then takes place above a layer 62 ofpassivation and partially replaces and extends the conventional methodof having for these purposes a fine-line distribution interconnectnetwork 60 under the layer 62 of passivation.

Some points of interest can be listed at this time as they relate toprior art methods and to the invention.

Prior Art:

-   -   provides an ESD circuit for each pad that is connected to        external power supply. In other words, the ESD circuit must be        close to the pad connected to external power supply. In the case        that the pad is far away from the ESD circuit, the pad and the        ESD circuit are connected to each other by the fine metal line.        The metal line will be burned during the power surge, because        the load of metal line (high metal resistance and capacitance)        is too high.    -   provides, in parallel to the ESD circuits, a fine-line        interconnect network for further distribution of the power and        ground stimuli, and    -   the fine-line power and ground distribution network is created        underneath a layer of passivation. There is significant IR drop        and power/ground noise due to the high resistance and high        capacitance of the fine-line interconnect network.

In this respect and related to the above provided comments, it must beremembered that power and ground pads do not require drivers and/orreceiver circuitry.

The Invention:

-   -   does not need to create an ESD circuit for each pad that is        connected to external power supply. That is, more than one pad        can be connected to external power supply by sharing one ESD        circuit. It also implies that the ESD circuit can be located at        a distance from the pad connected to external power supply. In        view of the more robust wiring (low load due to low resistance        and low capacitance) that drives the ESD circuit, the design        architecture results in reduced power loss by an unexpected        power surge over the interconnect line, resulting in more power        being delivered to the ESD circuit, and    -   allows for the power and ground interconnects to be directly        connected to the power and ground nodes of the internal circuits        of a semiconductor device, this either without an ESD circuit or        with a smaller than regular ESD circuit (as previously        explained), and    -   the post-passivation power and ground distribution network is        created above a layer of passivation. There is no significant IR        drop and power/ground noise due to the low resistance and low        capacitance of post-passivation interconnect network.

The method that is used to create the interconnect network that is shownin FIG. 3 a addresses only the use of power and ground connections. FIG.3 a can be summarized as follows: a silicon substrate 40 is provided inthe surface of which have been created semiconductor devices 42 and atleast one electrostatic discharge (ESD) circuit 44; one or more layers60″ of dielectric are deposited over the substrate 40; a fine-lineinterconnect network 60 is created in the dielectric layers 60″ makingcontact with the active circuits 42 and the ESD circuit 44. A layer 62of passivation is deposited over the fine-line interconnect network 60.Openings 63 are created in the layer 62 of passivation that aligns withpoints of contact in the top layer of the fine-line interconnect network60. A thick layer of dielectric is optionally deposited over the layer62 of passivation. An adhesion/barrier layer and a seed layer aredeposited over the whole substrate 40. A thick photoresist layer isdeposited to a thickness greater than the desired bulk metal thickness.Conventional lithography is used to expose the seed layer in those areaswhere electroplating thick, wide metallization 66 is desired. Thus, awide thick line post-passivation interconnect network 66 is created byselective deposition in the layer 64 of dielectric, contacting the ESDcircuits 44 and the internal circuits 42. A point of electrical contactcomprising a power or ground contact 68, 68′ is provided in the surfaceof the thick layer 64 of dielectric.

A selective deposition process forms the post-passivation metal lines66. An advantage of the selective deposition process of the invention isa minimization of wasted material, especially when precious metal, suchas gold, silver, or palladium is used. In the selective depositionprocess, the metal is electroplated only where it is needed. Incontrast, in the standard metal damascene process used for fine linemetallization, metal is electroplated everywhere and then etched orpolished away where it is not needed. This is a waste of expensivemetal, especially for the cases when precious metal, is used. Theremoved metal is often contaminated and may not be able to be reused ormay be very expensive to be reused.

FIG. 3 b provides further insight into the creation of the power andground post-passivation interconnect lines of the invention wherebythese interconnect lines have been shown as thick, wide interconnectlines 66 and fine line interconnect lines 66′. Post-passivation thickinterconnect lines 66 have been created above the layer 62 ofpassivation and act as global power and ground interconnect lines. Fineline interconnect lines 66′ have been created below the layer 62 ofpassivation and act as local power and ground interconnect lines. Againthick, wide interconnect line 66 represents the combined (for multipleconnection scheme in layer 64) power or ground bus or plane. This couldbe one or more than one thick, wide post-passivation metal layers 66 aswell as intervening dielectric 64 including a polymer. For multiplethick, wide interconnect layers 66 of metal, the metal layers 66 areconnected through openings in the polymer. Metal scheme 66′ representsthe combined (for multiple connection scheme in layer 60″ of dielectric)power or ground bus or plane. This could be one or more than onefine-line metal layers 66′ as well as intervening dielectric 60″ usuallyincluding a silicon-based oxide. For multiple layers 66′ of fine-linemetal, the fine-line metal layers 66′ are connected through openings inthe silicon-based inter-metal dielectrics. Alternately, if the currentis large, wide metal lines 66 can be used in the fine-line interconnectnetwork 60.

FIG. 3 c provides an alternative in which contact is made toconventional aluminum metal layers 61′, for example, through thepassivation layer 62 rather than making contact to the post-passivationthick, wide metal system 66. The top layer of metal layers 61′ is usedfor contact pad purposes and for connection between the contact pad 58′and the wide, thick interconnect lines 66. The distance of metal layers61′ is a short distance; for example, <500 μm in length. The contact pad58′ can then be connected to external circuits through wirebonds, goldbumps and/or solder bumps.

In the process of the present invention, in all aspects shown in thefigures, the post passivation metallization can optionally be performeddirectly on the passivation layer 62 without the intervening polymerinsulating layer. Although the insulating polymer layer providesdistinct advantages, it may be desirable to remove the insulatingpolymer layer in order to save costs.

Referring now to FIG. 4 a, FIG. 4 a addresses the interconnections ofsignal and clock line. Signal here includes address, data, logic, andanalog signals. Signal also includes the power/ground voltage outputfrom voltage regulators. In FIG. 4 a there is shown a cross section of asilicon substrate 40 over which an interconnect network is createdaccording to the invention. An access pad 70 to an ESD circuit 44 ordriver or receiver circuits or I/O circuits 45′ is provided through thesurface of the layer 64 of dielectric for external connection. While anESD circuit 44 is required for all circuits to which an I/O connectionis established and independent of the type of circuit to which the I/Oconnection is established, the I/O interconnect can also be provided toa receiver circuit or a driver circuit or an I/O circuit 45′.

The features not previously highlighted that are shown in FIG. 4 a are:

-   -   43′ is now the signal node of the internal semiconductor        circuits 42. The control, data, address signals or stimuli are        input or output from the signal node 43′.    -   the invention provides an interconnect network 72 comprising        wide, thick post-passivation interconnect lines for distribution        of the clock and signal stimuli,    -   the invention creates an interconnect network 72 of thick, wide        post-passivation interconnect lines for the clock and signal        stimuli overlying a layer 62 of passivation,    -   70 is an external connection (pad) that is provided for the ESD        circuit 44 and for driver/receiver/I/O circuit 45′; pad 70        provides external access for clock and signal stimuli to        circuits 44 and 45′, and    -   72 is a clock or signal bus that is created in the dielectric        layer 64 using thick, wide post-passivation wires for        interconnect lines 72; it must be noted that the clock and        signal interconnect line distribution is entirely contained        within the dielectric layer 64 without providing an external        point of I/O interconnect.

The method that is used to create the interconnect network 72 that isshown in cross section in FIG. 4 a can be summarized as follows. Asilicon substrate 40 is provided; active circuits 42 have been createdin the surface of the substrate 40 including an ESD circuit 44,receiver, driver and I/O circuit 45′. First layers 58 of dielectric ofinorganic material are deposited over the substrate 40 and a fine-lineinterconnect network 60′ is created in the layers 60″ of dielectric,making contact with the active circuitry. A layer 62 of passivation isdeposited over the first thin layers 60″ of dielectric; openings 63 aremade through the passivation layer 62 to align with points of electricalcontact in the surface of the first layers 60″ of dielectric. One ormore thicker layers 64 of dielectric are deposited over the surface ofthe layer 62 of passivation, typically of an organic material; a widethick line post-passivation interconnect network 72 is created in thethicker layer 64 of dielectric by selective deposition, makingelectrical contact with the metal pads under the layer 62 ofpassivation, including to the one ESD circuit 44, receiver, driver orI/O circuit 45′. A point of electrical contact is provided in thesurface of the second layer of dielectric to the ESD circuit 44,receiver, driver or I/O circuit 45′.

FIG. 4 b provides further insight into the creation of the signal andclock post-passivation interconnect lines of the invention whereby theseinterconnect lines have been shown as thick, wide interconnect lines 71and fine line interconnect lines 71′. Post-passivation interconnectlines 71 have been created above the layer 62 of passivation and act asglobal signal and clock interconnect lines. Fine line interconnect lines71′ have been created below the layer 62 of passivation and act as localsignal and clock interconnect lines. Furthermore, internal circuits 42have no driver, no receiver, and no ESD connections.

Intra-chip drivers and receivers may be necessary if the interconnectiondistance is long and/or the load of the net of circuits is large. Adriver circuit is used to drive a load; i.e., to charge up thecapacitance of a net formed with circuits and interconnects by the drivecurrent. A driver current is the output of a driver circuit. The abilityto drive current is proportional, in CMOS devices, to the W/L ratio,where W/L is the ratio of the device channel width to its length. Theseintra-chip drivers are typically smaller than off-chip I/O drivers. Forthe ability to detect a signal level, the sensitivity of a receiver isdependent on the sensing amplifier, or latched input circuits, orcascade stages. The intra-chip receiver requires smaller sensingamplifiers, or latched circuits, or fewer stages of cascade circuits ascompared to the off-chip receivers. Intra-chip drivers and receivers 80are shown in FIGS. 4 c and 4 d. Intra-chip circuits 80 typically have noESD circuits and no I/O circuits. For short distance on-chipinterconnection, no intra-chip circuits may be required. FIG. 4 d showsan example of internal circuits 42′ that need to utilize attachedintra-chip drivers or receivers 80 while internal circuits 42′ do notrequire attached intra-chip drivers or receivers 80.

Further provided are:

-   -   45 are two ESD circuits that are provided in or on the surface        of the substrate 40; ESD circuits 45 are always required for any        external connection to an input/output (I/O) pad 70    -   45′ which are circuits that can be receiver or driver or I/O        circuits for input (receiver) or output (driver) or I/O purposes        respectively. These are off-chip drivers or receivers or I/O        circuits 45′. Contact pads 70 to the off-chip drivers,        receivers, or I/O circuits 45′ may be far from the ESD circuits        44. They may be between about 100 microns to 1 millimeter away        from the ESD circuits 44. Furthermore, off-chip contact pads 70        may be between about 200 microns to 1 millimeter away from each        other.

Intra-chip circuits are usually smaller than the off-chip drivers. Theintra-chip driver circuits are different from the off-chip circuits inthat they have no I/O circuits and no ESD circuits. FIGS. 4 c and 4 dshow smaller internal driver circuits 80 connected to the internalcircuits 42. Driver/receiver/I/O circuits 45′ are larger than off-chipcircuits.

In FIGS. 4 a, 4 b, 4 c, and 4 d, the connection to external circuits ismade through pad 70 formed and exposed on the top of thepost-passivation metal structure. The connection to external circuitscan be made through solder bumps, gold bumps and/or wirebonds. In someapplications, as shown in FIGS. 4 e, 4 f, 4 g, and 4 h, the connectionto external circuits can be made on a conventional aluminum metal 70′,for example, through the passivation layer 62 rather than making contactto the post-passivation thick, wide metal system. FIGS. 4 e, 4 f, 4 g,and 4 h describe the similar design architecture as in FIGS. 4 a, 4 b, 4c, and 4 d, respectively, except that pads for connection to externalcircuits are at different structure levels.

FIG. 4 i shows two drivers, receivers or I/O circuits 45 sharing acommon ESD circuit 44 by using the post-passivation interconnect 72′ toconnect the drivers, receivers or I/O circuits 45 to the common ESDcircuit 44. Each driver, receiver or I/O circuit 45 is connected to theinternal circuits 42 through the post-passivation interconnects 72. Thedrivers, receivers, or I/O circuits 45 and the ESD circuit 44 areconnected to the external circuits at the contact point 70. Multiple(more than two) drivers, receivers, and/or I/O circuits 45 can beconnected to multiple ESD circuits 44 (more than one) using thepost-passivation interconnects 72′. In FIG. 4 j, three drivers,receivers, or I/O circuits, 45, 45′, 45″, and two ESD circuits 44, 44′are connected through low impedance post-passivation interconnects, 73,consisting of two networks 73′ and 73″. The drivers, receivers or I/Ocircuits, 45, 45′, 45″ are then connected to internal circuits 42through post-passivation interconnects 72.

FIG. 5 a shows a representation of a silicon substrate 40 over which aninterconnect network is created according to the invention, with thepost-passivation interconnect network created in a thick layer 64 ofdielectric overlying a layer 62 of passivation and remaining internal tothe thick layer 64 of dielectric. No ESD, receiver, driver or I/Ocircuit access pad is provided for external connection to the internalcircuits 42. Shown in FIG. 5 a and not previously highlighted is theclock or signal post-passivation interconnect line 74, providing for aninterconnect scheme of thick, wide lines overlying a passivation layer62 whereby no external I/O connections are provided. Due to the thick,wide lines of the interconnect network 74 that is created overlying apassivation layer 62, the clock and signal distribution can take placeentirely within the dielectric layer 64; this as opposed to prior artmethods where, for clock and signal distribution lines, each thick, wideinterconnect line 74 (where such thick, wide interconnect lines areused) must be provided with at least one I/O connect point for off-chipconnection.

The method that is used to create the wide thick line post-passivationinterconnect lines that is shown in cross section in FIG. 5 a can besummarized as follows and is similar to that described above for FIG. 4a. A silicon substrate 40 is provided. Active devices 42 have beenprovided in and/or on the surface of the substrate 40. First thin layers58 of dielectric are deposited over the surface of the substrate 40, afine-line interconnect network 60 is created in the first layers 60″ ofdielectric comprising fine-line interconnect lines 60′, making contactwith points of electrical contact in the surface of the substrate 40. Alayer 62 of passivation is deposited over the surface of the firstlayers 60″ of dielectric. Second thick layers 64 of dielectric aredeposited over the surface of the passivation layer 62, apost-passivation interconnect network is created in the second layers 64of dielectric comprising thick, wide interconnect lines 74, created byselective deposition, making contact with points 63 of electricalcontact in the passivation layer 62.

FIG. 5 b provides further insight into the creation of the signal andclock interconnect lines of the invention whereby these interconnectlines have been shown as post-passivation interconnect lines 71 and fineline interconnect lines 71′. Post-passivation interconnect lines 71 havebeen created above the layer 62 of passivation and can act as globalsignal and clock interconnect lines. Fine line interconnect lines 71′have been created below the layer 62 of passivation and act as localsignal and clock interconnect lines 71′. Also as shown in FIG. 5 a,internal circuits 42 are shown. Circuits 42 have no I/O circuits and noESD circuits. FIGS. 5 c and 5 d show smaller internal driver circuits 80connected to the internal circuits 42′, while no smaller internaldrivers are connected to the internal circuits 42.

FIG. 5 e shows a series of driver/receivers, 101′ 102′ or transceivers,103 or repeater 103 devices. An internal circuit 42 is connected to aninternal circuit 42′ at a distance. To interconnect these two circuits42, 42′ at a significant distance, a series of repeaters or transceivers103 together with the post-passivation interconnects 74 are applied. Arepeater or transceiver 103 consists typically of a receiver 102′ and adriver 101′, using fine line connection 103″ in series. The circuit 42uses fine line connection 101 ″ to connect to an on-chip driver 101,driving through post-passivation interconnects 74, and passing repeaters103, and arriving at the receiver 102 and the internal circuit 42′. Therepeaters or transceivers combined with the post-passivationinterconnects provide methods for interconnecting different functions ona system-on-a-chip (SOC) chip.

It must further be emphasized that, where FIGS. 3–5 show a fine-lineinterconnect network 60 that underlies the layer 62 of passivation, theinvention also enables and can be further extended with the completeelimination of the fine-line interconnect network 60 and creating anpost-passivation interconnect network 66, 71, 72, 72, 72′, 73, 74 thatuses only thick, wide wires. For this application of the invention, thefirst layer 60″ of dielectric is not applied and the layer 62 ofpassivation is deposited directly over the surface of the createdsemiconductor devices 42 in or on the surface of substrate 40.

The post-passivation interconnection lines of the present invention areformed of thick, wide metal layers, the thickness reducing resistance.Use of the intermetal polymer dielectric between metal layers reducescapacitance. With the reduced capacitance, a higher frequency ofoperation results due to a higher resonant frequency.

Resistance (per unit length) of metal interconnections in an integratedcircuit is determined by the material to be used and metal thickness andwidth, while capacitance (per unit length) is related to dielectrictypes, thickness, and metal line width, spacing, and thickness. Metalcapacitance includes three components: 1) plate capacitance which is afunction of the metal width to dielectric thickness aspect ratio, 2)coupling capacitance which is a function of the metal thickness to linespacing aspect ratio, and 3) fringing capacitance which is a function ofmetal thickness, spacing, and dielectric thickness.

In a first example, to the extreme of the fine line metal capability,fine line metal thickness is about 2 μm, fine line metal width is about10 μm, fine line IMD thickness is about 2 μm, and the line spacing isabout 10 μm. Post-passivation metal thickness is about 5 μm, metal widthis about 10 μm, dielectric thickness is about 5 μm, and lines spacing isalso about 10 μm. The metal thickness difference results in a 2.5 timesreduction in resistance (per unit length) in the post-passivation metalstructure over the fine line metal structure. The dielectric thicknessresults in a 2.5 times difference in capacitance (per unit length) inthe post-passivation metal structure over the fine line metal structure.Then, the reduction in resistance (per unit length) times capacitance(per unit length) (RC product (per unit length)) is 6.25 times, or about5 times.

In a second example, fine line metal thickness is about 1 μm, fine linemetal width is about 10 μm, fine line IMD thickness is about 0.5 μm, andthe line spacing is about 2 μm. Post-passivation metal thickness isabout 5 μm, metal width is about 10 μm, dielectric thickness is about 5μm, and lines spacing is about 10 μm. The metal thickness differenceresults in about a 5 times reduction in resistance (per unit length) inthe post-passivation metal structure over the fine line metal structure.The capacitance (per unit length) is dominated in this case by platecapacitance with a reduction of 10 times difference in capacitance (perunit length) in the post-passivation metal structure over the fine linemetal structure. Then, the reduction in RC product (per unit length) isabout 50 times.

In a third example, typical capability fine line metal thickness isabout 0.4 μm, fine line metal width is about 0.2 μm, fine line IMDthickness is about 0.4 μm, and the line spacing is about 0.2 μm.Post-passivation metal thickness is about 5 μm, metal width is about 10μm, dielectric thickness is about 5 μm, and line spacing is about 10 μm.The metal thickness difference results in about a 625 times reduction inresistance (per unit length) in the post-passivation metal structureover the fine line metal structure. The capacitance (per unit length) isdominated by coupling capacitance and results in about a 4 timesdifference in capacitance (per unit length) in the post-passivationmetal structure over the fine line metal structure. Then, the reductionin RC product (per unit length) is about 2,500 times.

In a fourth example, typical capability fine line metal thickness isabout 0.4 μm, fine line metal width is about 0.2 μm, fine line IMDthickness is about 0.4 μm, and the line spacing is about 0.2 μm.Post-passivation metal thickness is about 10 μm, metal width is about 10μm, dielectric thickness is about 10 μm, and line spacing is about 40μm. The metal thickness difference results in about a 1250 timesreduction in resistance (per unit length) in the post-passivation metalstructure over the fine line metal structure. The capacitance (per unitlength) is dominated by coupling capacitance and results in about an 8times difference in capacitance (per unit length) in thepost-passivation metal structure over the fine line metal structure.Then, the reduction in RC product (per unit length) is about 10,000times.

Summarizing the above discussion, the RC product (per unit length) ofthe post-passivation metal structure can be about 5 to 10,000 timessmaller than the RC product of the fine line metal structure.

It is difficult to achieve 100 times smaller RC product (per unitlength) for the top layer metal of a fine line metallization system whencompared to the bottom layer metal in the fine line metalinterconnection process. For example, the metal line resistance (perunit length) at the top layer metal can be reduced by designing a widepiece of metal, while the capacitance (per unit length) of that metalline will be increasing accordingly (because the IMD is thin).Essentially, it is hard for fine line IC metals to achieve even 10 timessmaller RC product (per unit length) for its top metal layer versus itsbottom metal layer.

It is further of value to briefly discuss the above implemented andaddressed distinction between fine-line interconnect lines and wide,thick post-passivation interconnect lines. The following points apply inthis respect:

-   -   the prior art fine line interconnect lines are created        underneath a layer of passivation, the wide, thick        post-passivation interconnect lines of the invention are created        above a layer of passivation    -   the fine-line interconnect lines are typically created in a        layer of inorganic dielectric; the thick wide post-passivation        interconnect lines are typically created in a layer of        dielectric comprising polymer. This is because an inorganic        material cannot be deposited as a thick layer of dielectric        because such a layer of dielectric could develop fissures and        crack as a result. Although the polymer is preferred, the thick        wide post-passivation interconnect lines could be formed over a        conventional passivation layer without the polymer    -   fine-line interconnect metal is typically created using methods        of sputter with resist etching or of damascene processes using        oxide etch with electroplating after which CMP is applied.        Either one of these two approaches cannot create thick metal due        to cost considerations or metal stress or oxide cracking    -   thick, wide post-passivation interconnect lines can be created        by first sputtering a thin metal base layer, coating and        patterning a thick layer of photoresist, applying a thick layer        of metal by selective electroplating, removing the patterned        photoresist and performing metal base etching (of the sputtered        thin metal base). This method allows for the creation of a        pattern of very thick, wide metal; metal thickness in excess of        1 μm can in this manner be achieved while the thickness of the        layer of dielectric in which the thick metal interconnect lines        are created can be in excess of 2 μm. In the selective        deposition process, the metal is electroplated only where it is        needed. In contrast, in the standard metal damascene process        used for fine line metallization, metal is electroplated        everywhere and then etched or polished away where it is not        needed. This is a waste of expensive metal, especially in those        cases where precious metal such as gold, silver, or palladium is        used. The removed metal is often contaminated and may not be        able to be reused or may be very expensive to reuse.    -   The fine line interconnect lines must be fabricated in a        stringent clean room environment of class 10 or less while the        post-passivation interconnect lines can be fabricated in a much        less expensive clean room environment of class 100 or more.    -   The RC product (per unit length) —resistance times capacitance        of the post-passivation interconnection lines is much smaller        than the RC product of the fine line interconnect lines.

In summary, the post-passivation interconnection of the presentinvention can connect to three types of circuits (i) off-chip drivers,receivers, I/O circuits, and ESD circuits, (ii) intra-chip drivers andreceivers, and (iii) internal circuits. No driver is required forfreeway interconnection with a distance<“D”. A smaller driver is usedfor freeway interconnection with a distance>“D”; that is, intra-chipconnection. For I/O and ESD circuits, a large driver, larger than theintra-chip driver, is used for off-chip connection.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated with referenceto specific illustrative embodiments thereof, it is not intended thatthe invention be limited to those illustrative embodiments. Thoseskilled in the art will recognize that variations and modifications canbe made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It istherefore intended to include within the invention all such variationsand modifications which fall within the scope of the appended claims andequivalents thereof.

1. A circuit component comprising: a semiconductor substrate; an ESDcircuit in or on said semiconductor substrate; an I/O circuit in or onsaid semiconductor substrate; a first metallization structure over saidsemiconductor substrate; a passivation layer over said firstmetallization structure; and a second metallization structure over saidpassivation layer, wherein said second metallization structure connectssaid ESD circuit and said I/O circuit, and wherein a signal stimuli isprovided to said ESD circuit and said I/O circuit through said secondmetallization structure.
 2. The circuit component of claim 1, whereinsaid I/O circuit comprises a driver.
 3. The circuit component of claim1, wherein said I/O circuit comprises a receiver.
 4. The circuitcomponent of claim 1, wherein said passivation layer comprises a nitridelayer having a thickness greater than 0.3 microns.
 5. The circuitcomponent of claim 1, wherein said passivation layer comprises anoxynitride layer having a thickness greater than 0.3 microns.
 6. Thecircuit component of claim 1, wherein said second metallizationstructure comprises electroplated gold.
 7. The circuit component ofclaim 1, wherein said second metallization structure compriseselectroplated copper.
 8. The circuit component of claim 1, wherein saidsecond metallization structure comprises electroplated silver.
 9. Thecircuit component of claim 1, wherein said second metallizationstructure comprises electroplated palladium.
 10. The circuit componentof claim 1, wherein said second metallization structure compriseselectroplated nickel.
 11. The circuit component of claim 1, wherein saidsecond metallization structure comprises a metal line having a thicknessof greater than 2 microns.
 12. A circuit component comprising: asemiconductor substrates; a first I/O circuit in or on saidsemiconductor substrate; a second I/O circuit in or on saidsemiconductor substrate; a first metallization structure over saidsemiconductor substrate, wherein said first metallization structure isconnected to said first I/O circuit; a second metallization structureover said semiconductor substrate, wherein said second metallizationstructure is connected to said second I/O circuit; a passivation layerover said first and second metallization structures; and a thirdmetallization structure over said passivation layer, wherein said thirdmetallization structure connects said first and second metallizationstructures, and wherein a signal stimuli is provided to said first andsecond I/O circuits through said third metallization structure.
 13. Thecircuit component of claim 12, wherein said first I/O circuit comprisesa driver.
 14. The circuit component of claim 12, wherein said first I/Ocircuit comprises a receiver.
 15. The circuit component of claim 12,wherein said passivation layer comprises a nitride layer having athickness greater than 0.3 microns.
 16. The circuit component of claim12, wherein said passivation layer comprises an oxynitride layer havinga thickness greater than 0.3 microns.
 17. The circuit component of claim12, wherein said third metallization structure comprises electroplatedgold.
 18. The circuit component of claim 12, wherein said thirdmetallization structure comprises electroplated copper.
 19. The circuitcomponent of claim 12, wherein said third metallization structurecomprises electroplated silver.
 20. The circuit component of claim 12,wherein said third metallization structure comprises electroplatedpalladium.
 21. The circuit component of claim 12, wherein said thirdmetallization structure comprises electroplated nickel.
 22. The circuitcomponent of claim 12, wherein said third metallization structurecomprises a metal line having a thickness of greater than 2 microns. 23.A circuit component comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a firstinternal circuit in or on said semiconductor substrate, wherein saidfirst internal circuit comprises a first signal node; a second internalcircuit in or on said semiconductor substrate, wherein said secondinternal circuit comprises a second signal node; a first metallizationstructure over said semiconductor substrate; a passivation layer oversaid first metallization structure; and a second metallization structureover said passivation layer, wherein said second metallization structureconnects said first and second signal nodes, and wherein a first productof resistance of a first portion of said second metallization structuretimes capacitance of said first portion is smaller than a second productof resistance of a second portion of said first metallization structuretimes capacitance of said second portion by the range of from 5 times to10,000 times, said first portion having a same length as said secondportion.
 24. The circuit component of claim 23, wherein said passivationlayer comprises a nitride layer having a thickness greater than 0.3microns.
 25. The circuit component of claim 23, wherein said passivationlayer comprises an oxynitride layer having a thickness greater than 0.3microns.
 26. The circuit component of claim 23, wherein said secondmetallization structure comprises electroplated gold.
 27. The circuitcomponent of claim 23, wherein said second metallization structurecomprises electroplated copper.
 28. The circuit component of claim 23,wherein said second metallization structure comprises electroplatedsilver.
 29. The circuit component of claim 23, wherein said secondmetallization structure comprises electroplated palladium.
 30. Thecircuit component of claim 23, wherein said second metallizationstructure comprises electroplated nickel.
 31. The circuit component ofclaim 23, wherein said second metallization structure comprises a metalline having a thickness of greater than 2 microns.
 32. A circuitcomponent comprising: a semiconductor substrate; a repeater in or onsaid semiconductor substrate; an on-chip driver in or on saidsemiconductor substrate; a first metallization structure over saidsemiconductor substrate; a passivation layer over said firstmetallization structure; and a second metallization structure over saidpassivation layer, wherein said second metallization structure connectssaid repeater and said on-chip driver.
 33. The circuit component ofclaim 32, wherein said repeater comprises a driver and a receiver, saiddriver of said repeater being connected in series to said receiver ofsaid repeater.
 34. The circuit component of claim 32, wherein saidpassivation layer comprises a nitride layer having a thickness greaterthan 0.3 microns.
 35. The circuit component of claim 32, wherein saidpassivation layer comprises an oxynitride layer having a thicknessgreater than 0.3 microns.
 36. The circuit component of claim 32, whereinsaid second metallization structure comprises electroplated gold. 37.The circuit component of claim 32, wherein said second metallizationstructure comprises electroplated copper.
 38. The circuit component ofclaim 32, wherein said second metallization structure compriseselectroplated silver.
 39. The circuit component of claim 32, whereinsaid second metallization structure comprises electroplated palladium.40. The circuit component of claim 32, wherein said second metallizationstructure comprises electroplated nickel.
 41. The circuit component ofclaim 32, wherein said second metallization structure comprises a metalline having a thickness of greater than 2 microns.
 42. The circuitcomponent of claim 32, further comprising a receiver in or on saidsemiconductor substrate, and a third metallization structure over saidmetallization structure, wherein said third metallization structureconnects said repeater and said receiver.
 43. The circuit component ofclaim 42, further comprising a first internal circuit in or on saidsemiconductor substrate, and a second internal circuit in or on saidsemiconductor substrate, wherein said on-chip driver comprises a firstcontact connected to said first internal circuit and a second contactconnected to said repeater, and wherein said receiver comprises a firstcontact connected to said second internal circuit and a second contactconnected to said repeater.
 44. The circuit component of claim 1,wherein said second metallization structure comprises a metal linehaving a thickness of between 2 and 100 microns and comprisingelectroplated copper.
 45. The circuit component of claim 1, wherein saidsecond metallization structure comprises a metal line having a thicknessof between 2 and 100 microns and comprising electroplated gold.
 46. Thecircuit component of claim 1, wherein said second metallizationstructure comprises a metal line having a thickness of between 2 and 100microns and comprising palladium.
 47. The circuit component of claim 1,wherein said signal stimuli comprises a clock signal.
 48. The circuitcomponent of claim 1, wherein said signal stimuli comprises an addresssignal.
 49. The circuit component of claim 1, wherein said signalstimuli comprises a data signal.
 50. The circuit component of claim 12,wherein said third metallization structure comprises a metal line havinga thickness of between 2 and 100 microns and comprising electroplatedcopper.
 51. The circuit component of claim 12, wherein said thirdmetallization structure comprises a metal line having a thickness ofbetween 2 and 100 microns and comprising electroplated gold.
 52. Thecircuit component of claim 12, wherein said third metallizationstructure comprises a metal line having a thickness of between 2 and 100microns and comprising palladium.
 53. The circuit component of claim 12,wherein said signal stimuli comprises a clock signal.
 54. The circuitcomponent of claim 12, wherein said signal stimuli comprises an addresssignal.
 55. The circuit component of claim 12, wherein said signalstimuli comprises a data signal.
 56. The circuit component of claim 23,wheren said second metallization structure comprises a metal line havinga thickness of between 2 and 100 microns and comprising electroplatedcopper.
 57. The circuit component of claim 23, wherein said secondmetallization structure comprises a metal line having a thickness ofbetween 2 and 100 microns and comprising electroplated gold.
 58. Thecircuit component of claim 23, wherein said second metallizationstructure comprises a metal line having a thickness of between 2 and 100microns and comprising palladium.